A20217:335
The ruin of RomeThe ruine of Rome
The ruin of Rome: or An exposition upon the whole Revelation Wherein is plainly showed and proved, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authority of Rome, shall ebb and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an utter overthrow even in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Jesuits, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.The ruine of Rome: or An exposition vpon the whole Reuelation Wherein is plainly shewed and proued, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Iesuites, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.
London: printed by T. Creede for Simon Waterson and Cuthbert Burby, 1603London: printed by T. Creede for Simon Waterson and Cutbert Burby, 1603
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Here we see how the Pope openeth hell gates with his key, & a most horrible, gross, & stinking smoke ascendeth up into the air presently upon it, in so much, that both the Sun & the air were darkened with it. Which all is to be understood of that spiritual darkness, ignorance, superstition, and Idolatry, wherewith the whole church was overspread, after the great Antichrist came to the possession of his cursed chair, & was in his pride & height, ruling & reigning over the kings of the earth. For them indeed the sun was darkened and eclipsed; that is, the light of the Gospel was almost clean put out. For that which is spoken here of the darkening of the air & the Sun, is ⟨p. 105⟩to be understood of a greater and more general darkness, then that which was mentioned in the former chapter, wherein but a third part of the world was darkened. But now that Antichrist invadeth the church, all is overspread with gross and palpable darkness, all is as dark as pitch: no man can see where he is, or which way he goeth. For the whole air is filled with this most odious and thick smoke, which came out of hell pit.
Here we see how the Pope openeth hell gates with his key, & a most horrible, grosse, & stinking smoake ascendeth vp into the ayre presently vpon it, in so much, that both the Sunne & the aire were darkned with it. Which all is to bee vnderstood of that spiritual darknesse, ignorance, superstition, and Idolatry, wherewith the whole church was ouerspread, after the great Antichrist came to the possession of his cursed chaire, & was in his pride & height, ruling & raigning ouer the kings of the earth. For thē indeed the sun was darkned and eclipsed; that is, the light of the Gospell was almost cleane put out. For that which is spoken here of the darkning of the aire & the Sun, is ⟨p. 105⟩to be vnderstood of a greater and more general darknesse, then that which was mentioned in the former chapter, wherein but a third part of the worlde was darkened. But now that Antichrist inuadeth the church, all is ouerspread with grosse and palpable darknesse, all is as darke as pitch: no man can see where he is, or which way hee goeth. For the whole aire is filled with this most odious and thick smoake, which came out of hell pit.